How to Make the Most of Your CCTV Systems

If you have already installed CCTV systems in your home or business, or if you are considering getting CCTV cameras to do so, then you have made a wise decision and you will find that this greatly helps you to protect your security and to improve the ease of your transactions and your customer service.

However just having CCTV cameras isn't really enough if you aren't using them regularly and using them smartly. What's more important is that you are careful with your CCTV systems in order to get the very most from them and to improve your security as much as possible. Here we will look at some ways you can get more out of your CCTV systems.

Consider the Locations

First of all, where are your CCTV cameras located around your property? If there is no rhyme or reason to the positions you have placed them then you need to rethink this with some strategy. You may for instance want to place your CCTV cameras in places where they will be seen. This way they are not only a security advantage after the fact to help you capture the trespassers, but also a deterrent that can prevent crimes from occurring in the first place. At the same time they are also a deterrent against other things, such as staff misbehaving or not providing the very best service.

On the other hand you may decide that you'd rather keep your CCTV cameras more hidden, this way getting a more genuine idea of how your staff behave when you're not there, and preventing potential thieves from tampering with the cameras or damaging them.

You also need to ensure that your CCTV cameras are located in such a way that they can capture the entire of the property. It is no good for instance to have whole sections of your store not visible to your cameras, otherwise you will find that you end up missing out on important things that occur.

Use Features

It is also a good idea to make sure that you invest in good CCTV camera with all the very best features. By now most people should be using digital rather than analogue for instance to overcome problems regarding recording from multiple tracks. Likewise if you go for digital then there are many other features you can benefit from as a result. For instance you can get IP CCTV – or internet protocol which means in short that your cameras will send information wirelessly. This means that your cameras can be moved around easily, and it means that you can watch the footage remotely from computers etc when you aren't in the building.

Motion sensors are also incredibly useful for CCTV, allowing your cameras to record only when there is movement being picked up.

Integrate

You would also be wise to integrate your CCTV systems with your other systems around your property. For instance you can integrate with alarm systems so that your CCTV sets off the alarm when it detects movement. Similarly CCTV can be used as part of an intercom device to allow you to discriminate on who you let into your building.